Emily Anne McKenzie

Emily was born on September 8, 1989 in La Habra, California. She is survived by her mother, Patti, her Father, Kelly, her brother Ryan and his wife Monica, nephew Andrew, nieces Rebecca and Emma and her brother Patrick and his wife Ariel and nephews Westin and Evan, and many other loving relatives and dear, close friends. Emily attended Canyon View Elementary, Esperero Middle School, and Amphi High School in Tucson, Arizona.

As a child, Emily was a sweet, spunky, tom-boyish little girl. She loved spending time with her friends, playing with her brothers and her cousins, playing with her dogs, searching for sand rubies in her elementary school yard, drawing and writing. Her medical issues started when she was seven, and she would endure many devastating health challenges throughout the rest of her life. What she endured through her life would have broken the average person, but not Emily. That is what drew people to her. She had a strong faith and she was able to find the good things in life to help her get through the most difficult ones. Regardless of everything life threw at her she possessed a genuine sweetness, purity, and happiness that she never failed to share, a deep caring for the people she held love for in her heart, and a passion for the things that brought her joy.

Just some of those things included: JESUS/SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS/HER TREASURED FRIEND PENNY/DAXIE AND NALA/ART/MURRAY’S ART CLASS AT THE JCC/POPCORN/ANGELS/LADYBUGS/BUTTERFLIES/HORSES/HUMMING-BIRDS/READING/MAKING SALADS/JIM CAREY AND ROBIN WILLIAMS MOVIES/CHEERING ON THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (C’MON BOYS!)/COLORING APPS ON HER PHONE/PRAYING WITH MOM/SOFT PIANO MUSIC/THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND/WRITING AND ILLUSTRATING HER “TUMOR BOOKS” ABOUT HER LIFE’S JOURNEY/BEING A disABLED DIVA MODEL/TEXTING HER FEELINGS WITH EMOJIS/DRAWING HER SIGNATURE ANGEL INSIDE ANY GREETING CARD SHE GAVE/and…SOUNDLY DEFEATING ANYONE THAT ATTEMPTED TO CHALLENGE HER AT BOGGLE.

Through the great heart-break of missing her, we take great comfort in knowing that Emily’s struggles are over. She is resting pain-free and peaceful in Jesus’ arms and she is re-united with her Nana, Jaja, Grandpa, and Grandma, her Auntie Pam, her Great-Uncles Ken and Alex, her Uncles Greg and Sean, her treasured and cherished friend Penny, and many more of her loved ones.

On Emily’s behalf, we send a heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful doctors, nurses (including TMC Infusion Clinic), counselors and caregivers over the years that helped Emily so immensely and that she so loved and appreciated. Our family also extends a heartfelt thank you to all the doctors and nursing staff at Tucson Medical Center, especially the ICU unit and the staff at Peppi’s House Hospice.

A memorial service will be held for Emily on March 21, 2025 from 2:00PM - 3:00PM at East Lawn Mortuary, 5801 East Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85712. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Emily’s name to Make A Wish Foundation/Ronald McDonald House Charities/EQUUS Foundation (Horse Rescue) or a charity of your choosing would greatly honor her memory. http://secure2.wish.org/site/TR/WishYourWay/?pg=personal&fr_id=6644&px=11036236